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In addition to the cooperation agreements, the Mercosur-EU negotiations and the politically delicate moments that Angela Merkel and Dilma Rousseff leaders faced, the international press highlighted in most articles published during the German Chancellor’s visit (19th and August 20th), the commitment between Germany and Brazil in reducing greenhouse gases. This theme appeared about 100 days away from the 21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-21) to be held in Paris.

Photo: Divulgation

Several cooperation agreements were signed with focus on climate, science and technology, education, biodiversity, innovation, cooperation and culture. Reuters, the largest international news agency of world, said the two leaders focused the meeting on environmental cooperation and discussed issues to boost trade and investment. The agency mentioned the Mercosur-EU negotiations, stating that Germany is interested in a “two-speed” negotiation and said it expected an exchange of offers between the two blocks to occur in the last quarter of this year.

Germany’s main media highlighted the reasons why Brazil is a strategic partner for them. Die Welt pointed out the large number of German companies with investments in Brazil, the influence that the country may have to face Russia within BRICS countries and the key role the country can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Deutsche Welle (DW) stressed Brazil’s efforts to combat deforestation. DW cited that a fund of 550 million EUR will be allocated to Brazil in the next two years to support the fight against deforestation and sustainability campaigns.

The Spanish, El Pais emphasized the support from Merkel to President Dilma Rousseff “a lightning visit to Brazil.” They spoke about the delicate political moment for the two leaders, on the infrastructure investments proposed by Brazilian President and mentioned that some agreements were signed.

The North American, The Wall Street Journal also stressed the commitment of both countries in climate change, noting that Merkel is the leader of the “green energy”. “Both countries emphasize that highest ambition of all countries is needed, both in the short term and in the long term”, evidenced the newspaper extracting the quote out of the joint statement.

The national press gave more details on the agreements signed during these bilateral meetings with German ministers and their Brazilian counterparts.

The Portal Brazil stressed the agreement to avoid double taxation in the area of sea and air transport. Valor Econômico gave further details on the agreements in administration of municipal solid waste, water reuse and recycling and biogas projects in Brazil with German investments. The newspaper also highlighted the commitment to climate change. Inside the positive agenda of the two countries, Dilma Rousseff will have assured the Chancellor by saying that in September they will launch new Brazilian goals in reducing emissions of the greenhouse gases by 2030. Valor still published an article pointing out that Germany calls for more regulatory certainty for investing in Brazil.

The Brazilian government used the presence of Merkel, with 12 ministers and deputy ministers, as a demonstration of German confidence said Folha de São Paulo press in one of the publications. It also highlighted an agreement for the pharmaceutical industry (technology transfer and the possibility of training of professionals in the Brazilian laboratories).

Germany is currently the fourth largest trading partner of Brazil, behind China, the US and Argentina. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the trade flow between countries – sum of exports and imports – reached $ 20.5 billion in 2014.